Member

Member

Thursday, June 26, 2014

After 18 Saves, Taking Stock Of Yankees' David Robertson

When David Robertson took the mound last night for his 20th save opportunity, it was his first appearance in a week. Robertson showed no signs of rust as he completed a five-out save, his 18th, securing a salvage of the Yankees' final game of their latest series in Toronto.

While we're not quite at the season's halfway mark, now is as good a time as any to take stock of the man who attempted to fill the shoes of Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer ever.

In addition to 18 saves out of 20 opportunities, Robertson is 0-2 with a 3.08 ERA, with 47 strike-outs and a .186 batting average against. The numbers, at first glance, seem to be mediocre. However, when you look at the implied number--two blown saves--you have to think more than mediocre.

When Robertson blew those two saves, you would have thought it was the end of the world. A slew of fans called for his ouster from the closer's job. Cries for Dellin Betances rang out through Yankees Universe, and there was even a lament, or two, about the Yankees "failure" to sign Grant Balfour in the off-season.

You would think there was a "1" in front of that two. But, no, Robertson hasn't blown 12 saves. It's only two at this point. Even Mariano Rivera had two saves at one point. He went on to blow a total of 80 in his career.

David Robertson will never completely fill Rivera's shoes. However, he is off to an adequate start in his first full season as the Yankees' closer.